Connaught Place, Delhi

Location
Connaught Place, Delhi, India

Reach There
Metro (Rajiv Chowk Metro Station)

Entry Fee
No Entry fee

Visiting Time
10:00 am – 8:30 pm (Sunday/Holiday Closed)

Connaught Place of New Delhi is the largest commercial center of the region. The market place is named after the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. The structure is a heritage building of the land, which was constructed in early 20th century. As of 2018, the Connaught Place is tagged as the ninth expensive office location of the world.

Location

The Connaught Place is located near Shivaji Bridge.

History of Connaught Place

Before the construction of this building, the area was filled with kikar trees and were home to wild pigs and jackals. The residents of surrounding regions visited this ridge for hunting. There was a Hanuman temple near the borders of this region. Pilgrims visited this temple during dawn, as dusk is considered very dangerous in this region, in the past. Later, the region was cleared and smaller villages near the ridge were destroyed to make way for Connaught Place. However, the Hanuman temple still remains as a historic religious structure. Jantar Mantar and Jaisingh pura were the other structures, whichwere spared during the clearance.

Tourist Attractions in Connaught Place

Connaught Place is popular for market which is built in Georgian styled architecture. The building forms two concentric circles. Seven roads connect the outer circle and inner circle. 12 roads lead you in and out of this market and most popular of all is Janpath road. You can find many giant cinemas and luxury theaters in this region.

The outer circle holds hotels, shops, restaurants and most importantly, the Regal building (wax museum). The middle circle has banks, exchange houses, offices and other corporates. You can find many entertainment centers in the inner circle. The central park is a large garden region near the market, which hosts cultural events and open for tourists to stroll and enjoy picnic. The Central Park holds the largest India flag.

Top Activities to Enjoy in Connaught Place

Catch a classic movie in 1920 Cinema Theater. You can even catch any old silent films, if lucky.

Visit the ancient Hanuman temple, which is said to be linked with Mahabharata.

Visit Jantar Mantar to spot many astronomical instruments of yesteryear.

Visit ICCR auditorium to catch any cultural activities

Visit the grand stepwell, Agrasen ki Baoli, near the Connaught Palace for sightseeing

How to Reach

There is a metro station right under the market, named Rajiv Chowk. Thus, it is quite easier to reach the market from any part of New Delhi. You can also find many buses, cabs and auto rickshaws from various parts of the region. The Rajiv Chowk is located in the inner circle of Connaught Palace and thus, metro is the most commonly used transportation to reach the market.

Visiting Time and Entry Fee

The market is open from 10 in the morning and closes by 8:30 in the evening. The opening and closing times of individual stalls varies with about the owner’s decision.

Accommodation

There are no accommodations inside any of the market regions. You can find numerous accommodations of varying styles in and around Delhi.

Best Time to Visit

If you visit during festival season, you can find numerous souvenirs and interesting traditional items. If you are looking for shopping experience, visit during evenings. Winter would be quite easier for exploring shops without sweating a lot.